UC Service Workers Examine Settlement Offer

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UC Service Workers Examine Settlement Offer
By Hank Chapot (gardener at UC Berkeley)
Wednesday February 11, 2009

As you read this, low-wage employees at all 10 University of California campuses represented by the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) are voting on a new contract, one close to that given union-represented patient-care workers a few months ago.

When the previous contract expired a year and a half ago and negotiations stalled, members intensified their fight; they picketed, organized a boycott by celebrities, politicians and commencement speakers, intensified lobbying, sponsored legislation, struck for five days in July 2008, began planning a longer strike for spring 2009, dogged the Regents and even sat in at head Regent Richard Blum’s office, where 20 workers and student supporters were arrested in January.read the full article